The Foreign Office is tracking the forced return of Malawian nationals from South Africa. The trigger is xenophobic violence. More than 1,000 people have been repatriated this week alone.
Sources say the South African government is struggling to contain the unrest. The Malawian High Commission in Pretoria is coordinating with local authorities. Back in Lilongwe, the government is bracing for the economic hit.
Remittances from South Africa are a lifeline for many families. The Foreign Office in London is watching but not intervening. A spokesman said 'We are in close contact with both governments.
' That is diplomatic code for 'We are waiting to see how this plays out.' The real fear is contagion. If the violence spreads to other foreign worker communities, the region could destabilise.
For now, the repatriations continue. Each flight home is a political statement. And a personal tragedy.
